CARANA Corporation, a contractor for USAID, designs and
directs innovative economic growth strategies to help countries
and businesses compete globally, reducing poverty and raising
living standards around the world. For over 30 years, we have
specialized in market-led solutions to development challenges in
more than 100 countries, packaging our expertise with
on-the-ground resources for continuing, cost-effective
results.
The USAID Nigeria Expanded
Trade and Transport Program (NEXTT) supports the Nigerian
government’s efforts to expand trade domestically, within the
ECOWAS sub-region and beyond, and improve trade efficiency so
that trade, particularly in agricultural products, can provide
inclusive economic growth and development to Nigeria. Using an
integrated approach to trade and transport competitiveness,
NEXTT builds upon Government of Nigeria (GoN) and prior USAID
efforts to stimulate investment in trade-related infrastructure
and services, reform trade policies and procedures, and improve
the position of Nigerian firms in global and regional
markets.
Over the 4-year project lifespan, NEXTT is expected to
leverage past and current efforts toward realizing the
following outcomes:
$25 million in new investments in projects along the
LAKAJI Corridor;
A 30% reduction in transport costs along the LAKAJI
corridor;
Dynamic trade policy coordination mechanisms that integrate
public and private sector priorities into a strategic framework
for engagement with trading partners;
Modernization of customs procedures and systems for meeting
international standards for agricultural goods;
An improved food safety and standards environment;
A dynamic business development services (BDS) ecosystem,
targeting exporting firms with high quality services, and;
$30 million in new exports from Nigeria
NEXTT will contribute to food security and poverty
reduction by contributing to Nigeria’s ability to take
advantage of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA),
and contributing to the food security initiative
Feed-the-Future via the implementation of work in three
components:
LAKAJI transport corridor improvements
Trade and Customs Policy reform, trade facilitation and food
safety, and expanded export support.
Job Title: Export and Business
Development Promotion Team Leader
Job Location: Lagos
OVERVIEW
The Export and Business Development Promotion Team
Leader shall contribute to export development by managing
relationships with exporters and investors, in the areas of
access to finance and technical assistance. S/he shall lead a
team to match exporter and producer capabilities to market
demands, provide advice and support, and identify potential
recipients of the Project Development Fund (PDF) to assist
SMEs reduce risks, implement technical upgrades, and access
higher value markets, ultimately leading to increased exports
and investment.
Responsibilities:
The Export and Business Development Promotion Team
Leader is responsible for providing leadership in the
project’s export assistance work. The Team Leader will
be the primary project liaison with exporting firms, ensuring
that these have access to the technical assistance, financing
and investment necessary to increase their exports.
He/She will also lead the project’s efforts to build a robust
network of high quality, Nigerian business development
services firms (BDS) who can facilitate the technical
assistance demanded by exporters to rapidly increase their
exports in the target value chains relevant to NEXTT.
The Team Leader will also be responsible for leading
efforts to build the capacity of the Nigerian Export Promotion
Council (NEPC) to deliver and facilitate export services related
to this target value chain. The Team Leader is responsible
for achieving the NEXTT project results related to Export
Expansion. This includes (over the Life of Project): supporting
at least 200 firms to increase their capacity to export through
trainings, direct, and indirect support provided by NEXTT
partners; facilitating $30M in exports and $25M in investment in
exporting firms; ensuring at least 40 BDS providers have received
assistance through NEXTT’s BDS provider network; and, supporting
at least 12 firms to obtain certification with international
quality control, environmental and other voluntary
standards.
SPECIFIC TASKS
I. Build pipeline of exporting firms in target value
chains and assist these to increase competitiveness
Build a robust pipeline of export opportunities, in
collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders and
counterpart USAID projects.
Lead implementation of an intensive export support strategy,
providing technical assistance (either in-house or through
external labor) to exporting firms to improve their ability to
export greater quantity of high quality products. As part
of this strategy, conduct technical workshops, support quality
improvement efforts, support advocacy efforts, and provide
assistance to stakeholders as they develop strategies for
increased exports. Support firms to access investment capital
as needed. Assist firms to apply for PDF funds.
II. Build supply and demand for Export Business
Development Services
Identify services needed for exporting firms in order to
facilitate high quality BDS services demanded by exporting
firms in the NEXTT exporter pipeline.
Lead the development of a Nigerian BDS network of providers
that are able to provide high quality support Nigerian
exporters, ensuring that these have the skills and tools
available to increase exports quickly
Deliver “training of trainers” modules for BDS providers on
critical subjects such as product development, access to
finance, market support and project development in
collaboration with NEPC and other institutions as needed
Coordinate semi-annual seminars for BDS providers on growth
opportunities and trends in demand for services in non-oil
export sectors
Organize and conduct workshops as needed for Global Shea
Alliance and African Cashew Alliance national chapters on
integrating BDS providers into their strategies for industry
growth
III. Build the capacity of public export promotion
bodies to provide quality services to exporters
In collaboration with NEPC, design and ensure the high
quality delivery of trade show participation workshops for
exporting firms, in collaboration with lead firms, industry
alliances, government agencies, and other stakeholders involved
in tradeshow participation.
In anticipation of trade shows, provide and facilitate
technical assistance to lead exporters, together with NEPC, on
trade show marketing and logistics, to assure fruitful
participation.
Develop a strategy for increased exports of Shea Butter and
Cashew, including trade show prioritization and marketing
strategies, in collaboration with lead export firms and
NEPC,.
Assist the NEPC to absorb the coordinating function of trade
show preparation and implementation over time.
Assist the NEPC to assume systemic oversight that can guide
donor, state agencies, and NGOs in export promotion
strategies.
IV. Other
responsibilities
Contribute to all required data collection and
reporting requirements including weekly, monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual, and annual reports, as well as the final project
report.
Assist in implementing the gender integration and
environmental mitigation plans developed for the NEXTT
project, ensuring the implementation of gender, and
environmentally-sensitive strategies.
Liaise with the other project components as required,
to ensure that the needs of exporting firms are included in
the transport and corridor improvement and policy components
of the project.
Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.
Post of Duty
Lagos, Nigeria, with frequent trips to the project head
office in Abuja.
Qualifications:
Must have a University post-graduate degree in a
relevant field.
Must be conversant with the Nigerian export sector and
the global trade environment.
Must have hands on experience in export business
development, a thorough understanding of AGOA and the process
of improving the trade and investment environment of
ECOWAS.
Must have management consulting skills and experience
in business service provision and an understanding of company
financial statements.
Must have demonstrated management and leadership
skills.
Supervision
The Export and Business Development Promotion
Specialist will report to the Chief of Party of the NEXTT
Project, Mr. Marc Shiman.
How To Apply:
All interested candidates should send CVs
to: jobs@nigerianextt.org OR
target="_blank">click here to
apply online.
Deadline:Not Stated